Abstract

This report is based on research carried out by a team of researchers based in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, supervised and coordinated by Professor Nadje Al- Ali, Centre for Gender Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. The research team consists of Muzhda Muhammed (Department of Social Work, Salahaddin University), Hataw Kareem (Sociology Department, Salahaddin University), Dlaram Salih (Sociology Department, Salahaddin University) and Kawther Akreyi (independent gender consultant). The project is part of and funded by the wider DelPHE Iraq programme that has encouraged cooperation between British and Iraqi universities for capacity building purposes.1
The research presented in this report aimed to study the specific problems and challenges faced by female academics in Iraqi Kurdistan. In addition, the research project was intended to introduce a group of Iraqi Kurdish academics to qualitative research methods as well as gender as a concept of analysis. More broadly, the partnership between SOAS and Salahaddin University is meant to develop and modernize the curriculum and research capacity at Salahaddin University. Additionally, through developing policy recommendations based on the research findings as well as capacity building the project hopes to contribute to improving the opportunities for and representation of female professionals in the Iraqi Kurdish Higher Education (HE) sector. Finally, the project aims to increase sensitivity and awareness about gender issues both within the HE sector as well as within society more widely. The report will provide the main research findings as well as recommendations.